Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Mount Vernon, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Mount Vernon, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,503 in New York, NY versus $2,857 in Mount Vernon, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $7,077 in New York, NY versus $3,967 in Mount Vernon, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,650 in New York, NY versus $5,077 in Mount Vernon, WA.

Living in New York, NY is roughly 58% more expensive than Mount Vernon, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: New York, NY 236% above, Mount Vernon, WA 113% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.28 $30.28

$16.41 $16.41

84.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$58.9 $58.9

141.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 $12.65

$12.44 $12.44

1.69%

Cappuccino

$5.81 $5.81

$5.75 $5.75

1.04%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.22 $2.22

46.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.71 $1.71

50.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.19 $8.19

$7.57 $7.57

8.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.82 $11.82

$12.15 $12.15

-2.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.11 $1.11

37.84%

White Bread (500g)

$5.27 $5.27

$4.29 $4.29

22.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.34 $8.34

$8.03 $8.03

3.86%

Eggs

$7.25 $7.25

$4.94 $4.94

46.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.29 $17.29

$11.16 $11.16

54.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.21 $16.21

$6.72 $6.72

141.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.82 $19.82

$8.30 $8.30

138.80%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$5.06 $5.06

49.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.71 $1.71

41.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.31 $4.31

35.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.39 $6.39

$5.04 $5.04

26.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$3.37 $3.37

14.84%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$1.93 $1.93

110.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.12 $3.12

$1.93 $1.93

61.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.97 $1.97

24.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.26 $19.26

$5.83 $5.83

230.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.96 $19.96

$18.17 $18.17

9.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.71 $1.71

74.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$2.56 $2.56

45.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.98 $1.98

43.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

$29.43 $29.43

356.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.53 $2.53

101.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.67 $1.67

26.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.31 $42.31

$30.20 $30.20

40.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.06 $1.06

-8.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.7K $34.7K

$25.4K $25.4K

36.91%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.8K $27.8K

$20.7K $20.7K

34.06%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$181 $181

$230 $230

-21.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$45.43 $45.43

32.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$79.1 $79.1

-20.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$43.46 $43.46

229.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$15.19 $15.19

31.53%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,216 $3,216

$2,108 $2,108

52.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.2K $57.2K

$31.8K $31.8K

79.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.5 $67.5

$43.24 $43.24

56.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.68 $47.68

$44.42 $44.42

7.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$56.4 $56.4

97.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$80.5 $80.5

109.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,092 $4,092

$1,679 $1,679

143.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,694 $2,694

$1,569 $1,569

71.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,445 $8,445

$2,670 $2,670

216.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,128 $5,128

$2,430 $2,430

110.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.2K $18.2K

$2,684 $2,684

577.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,299 $6,299

$2,324 $2,324

171.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,540 $5,540

$3,837 $3,837

44.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.38

0.94%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for New York, NY: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mount Vernon, WA: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $4,092 in New York, NY and $1,679 in Mount Vernon, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 44% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $142 in New York, NY vs $59.0 in Mount Vernon, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $371 per month, with Mount Vernon, WA cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

New York, NY vs Mount Vernon, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mount Vernon, WA is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

New York, NY pays 44% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $4,092 in New York, NY versus $1,679 in Mount Vernon, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in New York, NY. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Mount Vernon, WA – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $142 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Mount Vernon, WA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

For families, Mount Vernon, WA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in New York, NY, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Mount Vernon, WA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.